Sexual Content and Adult Products in Merchant Center: Fix

What this issue means

Sexual content is restricted content under Google's Shopping ads policies. It covers three areas: nudity (including blurred or censored images), sexual merchandise such as sex toys, enhancers and fetish lingerie, and sexual entertainment. Restricted means some of it can be shown with limits, while some isn't allowed at all. Google also says this content can't target minors.

Google states that violations of this policy don't lead to immediate account suspension without warning. It issues a warning at least 7 days before any suspension, and usually gives a window to fix the problem. More often, the first thing you'll see is product disapprovals or limited visibility.

This issue is about sexual and adult content. Shocking, violent or hateful material falls under a different policy, Inappropriate content.

Why it happens

• Adult products not labeled. Sex toys, adult lingerie, adult games and similar items listed without the adult attribute.
• Explicit or suggestive images. Nudity, sexual poses or close-up body shots in product images, including lingerie and swimwear photographed suggestively.
• Suggestive titles or descriptions on otherwise ordinary products, used to attract clicks.
• Explicit landing pages. Product pages or homepages with nudity or sexual imagery, even when the listing itself is clean.
• Wrong countries. Adult products targeted to countries where Google doesn't allow sexual content at all.
• Mixed catalogs. A general store selling a few adult items next to mainstream products without separating them.
• Prohibited categories, such as content that's sexually explicit or that Google doesn't allow in any form.

How to fix it

1. Identify the flagged items in Products, then Needs attention, filtered by the Sexual content issue.
2. Decide whether each product is adult. If it's sexual in nature or intended for adults only, it should be labeled as adult.
3. Add the adult attribute to those products in your feed or product data, set to yes. It's part of Google's product data specification and tells Google the item is for adults only.
4. Check your target countries. Google's policy page lists countries that don't allow this content at all, and others that allow it with limits. Exclude adult products from countries where they can't show.
5. Replace explicit images. Use product-only images with no nudity. For lingerie and swimwear, use non-suggestive model shots or flat lays.
6. Tone down titles and descriptions. Describe the product's features plainly, without sexual language aimed at getting attention.
7. Remove anything prohibited under the policy from the feed and, where needed, the site.
8. Check the landing pages. The pages your listings link to should match the restrictions too, not show explicit content above the product.
9. Separate mixed catalogs with clear categories on your site, so mainstream products aren't surrounded by adult imagery.

How to request a review

Once products are labeled or fixed, edits trigger re-review of individual items automatically. If you believe a product was wrongly flagged, for example a medical or swimwear item, use the appeal option in Needs attention.

For an account warning, open View setup and policy issues or the Review and fix banner and request a review before the deadline.

How long it takes

Product re-reviews after edits usually take a day or two. Google says reviews during a warning period can take up to 7 days, and account reviews typically about 7 business days, longer for complex cases. Requests are limited, so make all fixes before you submit.

Keep expectations realistic: correctly labeled adult products are still restricted, so they may get less reach than mainstream products even after the issue clears.

How to prevent it

• Add the adult attribute when you create any adult product, not after it's flagged.
• Set image guidelines for your team or photographer.
• Review new product titles for suggestive language.
• Keep adult products in a clearly separate collection or feed.
• Re-check the policy before running seasonal promotions, such as Valentine's Day.

Mercantads can label your catalog correctly, review images and set up feeds so adult and mainstream products don't conflict. Contact us or see our Merchant Center service.